08/12/2025
Did you know your life insurance can either save your family thousands… or cost them thousands?
How your policy is structured — who you nominate, your marital contract, and whether the policy is personal, company-owned, or part of a retirement fund — completely changes the estate duty and executor’s fees your heirs will face.
A correctly structured policy can avoid unnecessary tax, improve liquidity, and speed up payouts to your family.
If you haven’t reviewed your beneficiaries and policy structure recently, now is the time. A small change today can make a big difference later.
Some things to consider:
· Life insurance counts as “deemed property,” but smart structuring can eliminate estate duty.
· Your beneficiary choice—spouse, estate, company, or retirement fund—determines whether tax and executor fees apply.
· Spouse nominations and ANC-linked policies can avoid estate duty entirely.
· Naming your estate boosts tax and fees, so use it only for planned liquidity.
· Buy-and-sell and key person policies can be made fully tax-efficient when structured correctly.
· Retirement fund death benefits stay outside your estate.
· Review policies often — small tweaks can save your heirs significantly.
Contact us for a free consultation with a independent financial advisor.
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